Daytona 500 Ticket Price History – 2016 Face Values Up

2016- Face value of Daytona 500 tickets – Up Across the Board

Boy it’s going to be a whole new ball game for Daytona International Speedway as it enters a new era for the 2016 #Daytona500 speed-weeks. With a totally new reconfigured front-stretch, and a totally dismantled backstretch (aka the Super-stretch), tickets for the 2016 Daytona 500 are going to be tough to get.

As part of the $400 million Daytona Rising project, first, let’s consider capacity. The new configurations to DIS have changed dramatically as it’s now being referred to a a Racing stadium vs a track. And yes, the Super-stretch is GONE! That alone knocks out over 44,500 seats from the previous total capacity of 146,000. That left 101,500 for the front-stretch according to the Daytona News-Journal.

The front-stretch seats have been upgraded significantly, Joie Chitwood III, president of the track said. Every seat in the Speedway front stretch will be replaced with wider (21 inch) and more comfortable seats. The average width of an airline seat has shriveled from 18 inches to about 16 ½!

Additionally, more restrooms and concession stands, as well as escalators and elevators, will be added. At the conclusion of the redevelopment, scheduled for the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in January of 2016, Daytona International Speedway will be comprised of approximately 101,500 permanent seats, with the potential to increase permanent seating to 125,000.

The final seat of the Daytona Rising project installed January 19, 2016.

Take away the old black and white checkered seating and look to the new b/w stadium. For 2016, that’ll set you back $695 a seat for a 4 day race package – up from $680 in 2015 and 2014. And that’s the only way Daytona Intl Speedway sells the best seats. The new grandstand seating capacity was noted by ISC to be 101,500 with the removal of the 45,000 back-stretch seats.

The Suites – Tri-Oval Club

What about the enclosed suite box above Daytona International Speedway? The old one was torn down and completely rebuild with the Daytona Rising project. Based on old figures, in 2015, ISC mentioned there were 112 suites at DIS . Super exclusive! For 2016 there is said to be 80 new suites.

How much you ask for a four day package? As a member of the Trioval Club with Harley J’s, you get to take advantage of a special experience during your race weekend for only $2200 (up from $1895). Accessible from the 3rd and 4th levels, the Trioval Club with Harley J’s includes:

The 2014 price tag for what was known as the Budweiser 1876 club was $1895. In 2010, that would have set you back $1805, tax included per seat. But as a bargain – you could have gotten a one day deal for the 500 only – One-day package for the 52nd annual Daytona 500 were available on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 , actually down from $699 (tax inclusive) in 2013.

Make sure you post how much you remember paying for a face value ticket for the Daytona 500 in the comments section.

For the 2016 Speedweeks, track officials set pricing for two new group suite products, Midway Suites and High Bank Suites, in addition to a multi-day club-seat package. The estimate is there will be 80 suites in the newly configured tower. As a result of developing permanent hospitality spaces inside the facility, the track will charge $500 a person for the Midway Suites starting with the 2016 race, Daytona President Joie Chitwood said. The speedway previously charged $400 a person for the Daytona 500.

Doing the math, buying a 50-person Midway Suite would cost $25,000, a 25 percent increase over the chalets, which shut down after the race starts. The Midway Suites bring patrons inside the track and stay open for the duration of the race. The price for a Midway Suite covers race tickets and access to an indoor lounge on the back side of the track with no views of the action.

The High Bank Suites, also on the mezzanine level, are being sold as a season-long ticket package covering eight days of NASCAR racing. Those suites have interior lounges and outdoor patios facing the track with seats below those decks.

For that product, the average price of $2,448 a person covers tickets to the track’s major NASCAR races: the Budweiser Duels, Sprint Unlimited race, a Camping World Truck Series race, two Nationwide Series races, the Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400.

Buying a High Bank Suite for 50 people would cost $122,400.

Back in 2014

On the front stretch, the Speedway had 67 suites, ranging in size from 40 seats such as Coca-Cola’s to as many as 160. The specific design and amenities offered in each suite vary. Coca-Cola’s suite on the Sprint Tower’s seventh floor was decked out in Coke memorabilia; with pictures of the soft drink’s sponsored drivers on the walls celebrating, and trash cans shaped like Coke bottles. Gatorade’s suite next door had the company’s emblem, an orange lightning bolt on the wall. The suites, which cost $60,000 and up to reserve for the year. Most were owned by NASCAR sponsors such as Coca-Cola, Gatorade, Sprint, and Goodyear. The cost to keep a suite for all the Speedway’s major events annually started at $60,000.

Celebrities who have frequented the suites in the past include Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, Michael Jordan, Matthew McConaughey, John Travolta, and even Tim Tebow.

Different suites carry different foods and beverages. Suite holders work out menus with Americrown, the Speedway’s catering company. In 2014, an advertisement for suites on the Speedway’s website shows people enjoying nachos and shrimp cocktails, but Guthrie noted that whenever the late Bill France Jr., the former NASCAR chairman, was in a suite, he made sure it was fully stocked with hot dogs and chili.

Goodyear maintains two suites in the Daytona 500 Club, the four-story building next to Victory Lane.

The Sprint Fan Zone

Want to party on the infield without an infield ticket? Welcome to the Sprint Fan-Zone. Walk above the drivers garages on the Fan-deck, drink at the Budweiser Bistro bar, watch stuff on stage, and get to walk on the track before the race. You can even sign the start/finish line. Overall, it’s like tailgating without totally getting ripped off! Just remember, you have to have a valid Daytona race ticket in order to purchase the Fan-zone Pass. 2016 price $99 each.

In 2014 there was a variety of tickets to get you on the infield – $25 for Thurs/Fri $90 for Sunday or for all four days you can grab a package for $120. So the 2016 price of $99 looks like it actually went donw! Kids 12 and under are still free.

Pit-Road Patio

According to DIS, “Unless you are a crew member, there is no better way to be closer to the action than to have your very own Pit Road Patio seat! These elevated Pit Boxes are perched right behind Pit Road action. This open air venue will leave you with the feeling of not only watching the race but being a part of it!” That’ll set you back $1080 for the four day package.

2016- Ticket Face Values

For 2016 – the face value of a Daytona 500 Ticket for the Sprint Tower will set you back u$350 – NO CHANGE FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR! $350 per ticket for the 500, $695 for the 4 day set (up from $650). That includes the Sprint, Petty, Earnhardt towers as well. At least you get a newly widened 21 inch seat, with cup holder and arm rest.

Ticket Price History

The speedway opened with 18,000 grandstand seats and 6,000 bleacher seats, compared with 167,785 seats in 2010. A grandstand ticket to the inaugural race cost $8, which was higher than the $2.50 fans paid for the beach-road races in the early 1950’s and higher than the 55 cents a ticket cost in 1939. In 2007, a prime ticket in the Petty Tower was $240.

What about the $55 seat?
Now it’s the $95 seat.

With the Super-Stretch gone, so are the $65 seats that used to go with it. The lowest Reserve Ticket Price for the 2016 Daytona 500 is $95 located closest to the track on turn 4 and turn 1.

Back in 2014 the back-stretch was between turn 2 and 3. But you can get kids tickets starting at $32 in the same area!. What about those $55 seats?….you’re on the Super-stretch (between turns 2 and 3) – Well, they’re now $65. What’ll $55 get you you ask? First 10 rows on the Super-stretch and a good view of the two giant TVs. Don’t expect to see the end of the race except on those tv’s either. You’re just too low! Back in 2009,

The Daytona Beach International Speedway announced it cut its $99 ticket to $55 for the Daytona 500 because of slow sales. Tickets hadn’t been $55 since 1995. It’s another sign of the economic situation. The Daytona Beach International Speedway announced it was cutting ticket prices from $99 to $55 for the Daytona 500 because of slow sales. Previously, the event was completely sold out.

Daytona’s seating capacity shrank from 168,000 to 159,000 in 2009, the result of a front-stretch grandstand project that began in August 2008, according to DIS spokesman Andrew Booth. The renovation project replaced lower aluminum seating in the DePalma and Oldfield grandstands (located near Turn 4) as well as the Seagrave, Keech and Lockhart grandstands (located near Turn 1) with chair seats with arm rests.

In 2010, Daytona had the biggest capacity at 159,000 plus 112 suites, followed by Talladega (143,000; 30 suites).